Final, Flyers 4-0: Have to feel bad for Bruins fans, as they have been there for the Bruins as they battled through the playoffs. They deserved another clincher here in Game 5 but the Bruins suffered their first home loss of the playoffs in a 4-0 combined shutout by Brian Boucher (9 saves) and Michael Leighton (14 saves).
That was an embarrassing loss for the Bruins as they lacked emotion and jump from the start and never really found their groove. Not sure if they somehow thought this would be easy after losing Game 5 in a clinching situation at Buffalo, but the closing game is never easy and now they're headed back to Philadelphia for Game 6 on Wednesday.
Thanks for joining us here and have a great night!
Third period, 49 seconds, Flyers 4-0: More shenanigans on the ice as the Flyers and Bruins rough it up. Maybe the B's are trying to send a message for Game 6, but it would have been nice to see this emotion earlier.
The Flyers get their ninth power play as a result of the scrum.
Third period, 5:26, Flyers 4-0: Frustration is boiling over for the Bruins as Marc Savard and Mike Richards were tangled up behind the Flyers' net and then a big scrum ensued. The Flyers get another power play as a result.
The Bruins better harness that emotion because they will need it if the game ends the way it looks like it will end.
Third period, 9:50, Flyers 4-0: The Bruins' penalty kill continues to remain their best and only good aspect of their game as they killed off another Flyers power play.
Third period, 12:04, Flyers 4-0: The Flyers are on their eighth power play as Blake Wheeler just got called for tripping. The Flyers are 1-for-7.
Third period, 13:12, Flyers 4-0: The Flyers have to be happy they got Simon Gagne back in Game 4 because he has been a major factor in keeping the Flyers alive and quite possibly getting this series back to Philadelphia. Gagne just got his second goal of the game and third in two games, including the game-winner in overtime of Game 4.
Third period, 14:51, Flyers 3-0: It will be interesting to see what happens if the Flyers get the next goal. Will Claude Julien give Tim Thomas some playing time and rest Rask for a possible Game 6?
Third period, 18:42, Flyers 3-0: Under way in what Bruins fans were hoping would be the last period of this series, but as of now, that very well won't be the case with the Flyers leading 3-0.
End of second period, Flyers 3-0: The Flyers are on their sixth power play thanks to an Andrew Ference cross-checking penalty.
Second period, 2:07, Flyers 3-0: Simon Gagne just scored a power-play goal, and you can hear a pin drop in the TD Garden right now as the Flyers have all but booked a trip back to Philadelphia for the Bruins. Mike Richards and Ville Leino had the helpers.
Second period, 3:00, Flyers 2-0: The Bruins are starting to unravel and show their frustration. Steve Begin just hit Claude Giroux from behind and the Flyers are on their fifth power play.
Second period, 5:42, Flyers 2-0: The Bruins just killed off a Marc Savard roughing penalty and the Flyers are now 0-for-4 on the power play. But the penalty kill is about the only thing going right for the Bruins right now as they lack the emotion and jump needed to clinch a series.
This game reminds me of that infamous March 18 3-0 debacle against the Penguins. The B's are flat! They have held Philadelphia to two shots in the period but still gave up a goal. The Flyers are making their scoring chances count and the B's are not.
Second period, 8:44, Flyers 2-0: Scott Hartnell had the first goal taken away from him but he has one now as he just ripped the puck into a vacant net left by a sprawling Tuukka Rask.
Rask was out of position making the original save on a Daniel Briere shot, and Hartnell put the garbage in the basket. Kimmo Timonen had the other helper.
Second period, 11:33, Flyers 1-0: The Flyers killed off that last Bruins power play and the Bruins are now 0-for-2. As for Brian Boucher, word in the press box is a leg injury but no specifics and nothing is confirmed.
Second period, 14:51, Flyers 1-0: Daniel Briere is in the sin-bin and the Bruins are on their second power play.
Second period, 15:25, Flyers 1-0: Brian Boucher is leaving the game after injuring himself in a flurry of Bruins chances in the crease. Michael Leighton, who hasn't played since March 16 after suffering a high ankle sprain, is coming in for his first playoff action of 2010.
The Bruins almost scored before Boucher got injured as Miro Satan just quite couldn't get to a puck that rolled across the crease.
They get a rusty goalie now so let's see what they can do.
Second period, 19:21, Flyers 1-0: Under way in the second period and we have a scoring change on the Flyers goal. Ville Leino scored the goal and not Scott Hartnell. Assists still are credited to Chris Pronger and Matt Carle.
End of first period, Flyers 1-0: The Flyers are two periods away from bringing this series back to Philadelphia for a Game 6 on Wednesday. They got just the start they wanted, setting the tempo with some physical play, getting the early lead and spending 4:05 on the power play.
Brian Boucher also looks very sharp in the net tonight and is seeing the puck well. There weren't too many rebounds out there, either. That has been his weak spot the whole series and tonight he is in control.
Down the other end, you can't blame Tuukka Rask for that Scott Hartnell goal. Once again, the Flyers have free reign in front and they are capitalizing on the space. The Bruins need to get that corrected ASAP and also start creating traffic of their own or this series will live to see another game.
First period, 1:27, Flyers 1-0: The Flyers get another power play as Miro Satan just went off for tripping.
First period, 3:39, Flyers 1-0: The Bruins' penalty kill did a great job and got rewarded as the Flyers just got called for too many men on the ice, nullifying the rest of the double minor to Vlad Sobotka.
First period, 6:17, Flyers 1-0: The Flyers get the first power play of the game and it's a big one, a double-minor for high-sticking to Vlad Sobotka.
First period, 6:45, Flyers 1-0: The Milan Lucic–Marc Savard–Miro Satan line is clicking and buzzing out there, but Brian Boucher is also on his game and is seeing the puck well.
First period, 9:39, Flyers 1-0: Brian Boucher just made a great save on a Milan Lucic tip attempt of a Miro Satan shot. The spotlight man here at the TD Garden actually thought it was a goal but to no avail. He's got to watch that trigger finger on the spotlight.
Matt Brown, the Norwood hockey player that was recently paralyzed in a game, is here at the TD Garden for Game 5 and the crowd just gave him a standing ovation.
First period, 13:19, Flyers 1-0: Scott Hartnell has given the Flyers an early lead here and quieted this TD Garden crowd. Hartnell tipped the puck past Tuukka Rask after Chris Pronger shot one in from the point. Matt Carle gets his fifth assist in two games as well. Not the start the Bruins wanted as they try to eliminate the Flyers. Definite confidence boost for this desperate Philly club.
First period, 18:07: Claude Giroux had a splendid chance in front on a feed from Arron Asham, but Tuukka Rask made the brilliant save.
First period, 18:58: Under way at TD Garden in Game 5 as the Bruins try to close out the Flyers.
7:03 p.m.: Daniel Carcillo is in the lineup and Jon Kalinski is scratched. Carcillo will be on the fourth line for now.
7 p.m.: The Bruins and Flyers just finished their pregame skates and Daniel Carcillo was out there skating but we're not sure yet if he will play, as Andreas Nodl took the first line run, indicating he will play on the first line with Simon Gagne and Mike Richards. Here's what the lineups should look like if that's the case:
Bruins
Forwards
Daniel Paille–Patrice Bergeron–Mark Recchi
Milan Lucic–Marc Savard–Miroslav Satan
Blake Wheeler–Vladimir Sobotka–Michael Ryder
Steve Begin–Trent Whitfield–Shawn Thornton
Defensemen
Zdeno Chara–Johnny Boychuk
Matt Hunwick–Dennis Wideman
Andrew Ference–Mark Stuart
Goaltenders
Tuukka Rask
Tim Thomas
Flyers
Forwards
Simon Gagne–Mike Richards–Andreas Nodl
Scott Hartnell–Danny Briere–Ville Leino
James van Riemsdyk–Claude Giroux–Arron Asham
Daroll Powe–Blair Betts–Jon Kalinski
Defensemen
Matt Carle–Chris Pronger
Kimmo Timonen–Braydon Coburn
Ryan Parent–Lukas Krajieck
Goaltenders
Brian Boucher
Johan Backlund/Michael Leighton
5:30 p.m.: Greetings from the TD Garden, where we are getting closer to faceoff for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Bruins will have another chance to close out the Flyers in a best-of-7 series that they lead 3-1. Earlier today, the Bruins unveiled the statue honoring the legendary Bobby Orr and his magical cup-clinching goal he scored 40 years ago Monday on May 10, 1970. We'll be posting a piece on Orr later here at NESN.com, but Orr had one message to the current Bruins today: "One game at a time, boys!"
That's exactly how the B's are approaching tonight. They know they must put Game 4's heartbreaking OT loss in Game 4 but not look ahead to the Conference finals — or what could happen if they lose.
"We have done that the whole playoffs and we're not about to stop now," forward Shawn Thornton said. "We got here because of that and we'll go further if we keep that perspective."
We'll have more from the pregame skates later.
8 a.m.: The Bruins will try to close out their series with the Flyers on Monday night and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since
1992.
Actually, when the Bruins swept the Canadiens to advance and play
the Penguins that spring, it was called the Wales Conference Finals and
the Bruins advanced out of their division, the Adams Division. Fans
long for old-time hockey and those classic names, and Monday night, the B's
can make a new memory for their fans on what this scribe believes
should be "Bobby Orr Day" in Boston.
On May 10, 1970, Orr scored one of the most famous goals in the history
of the NHL and on Monday at 1 p.m. the Bruins will honor that moment with a
monument of Orr flying through the air.
While the Bruins don't have the opportunity to win the Cup Monday night,
they can cap off the 40th anniversary of "The Goal" with a
huge playoff win. On Sunday, this was clearly on the minds of the Bruins
and they're ready to put the Flyers away and win it for No. 4.
"It’d be pretty special," said Mark Stuart. "We’re going to try and do it for him."
We'll have all the news leading up to Game 5, so stay with us throughout
what the Bruins hope to be another magical moment in team history.
